Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Bitcoin Mining as Critical Energy Infrastructure in Europe
In this episode of Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock’n’Roll, co-host Michael Blaschke sits down with Dr. Harald Rauter, Chief Growth Officer at 21Energy and board member of the European Bitcoin & Energy Association, to explore how Bitcoin mining could become critical energy infrastructure in Europe.
Against the backdrop of Europe’s competitiveness and energy crises, Harald explains why 20–40 TWh of curtailed renewable power each year is not just an energy problem but a monetary one. He walks through the economics of stranded electricity, how grid constraints destroy CAPEX and erode industrial competitiveness, and why flexible loads like Bitcoin mining can turn wasted megawatts into revenue, grid stability and, ultimately, energy sovereignty.
Michael and Harald dive into a distinctly European model of mining: modular containers co-located with wind and solar assets, Bitcoin space heaters in homes and businesses, and architectures that stack multiple income streams—from monetizing curtailed power and providing grid-balancing and reserve services to reusing heat. They contrast this with the era of hyperscale industrial farms in North America and argue that the future of mining is smaller, smarter and deeply integrated into local energy systems.
The conversation also unpacks Europe’s surprisingly favorable regulatory landscape—from MiCA to key energy and market directives—and why the real bottleneck is no longer law but awareness and institutional courage. Drawing on work across 37 countries, Harald makes a clear case: Bitcoin mining is not outside the energy system; it is part of it.
For energy companies, financial institutions and policymakers, this episode offers a concrete roadmap to rethinking Bitcoin mining as an infrastructure tool for Europe’s energy transition.
Harald Rauter, Chief Growth Officer at 21energy, on LinkedIn Co-Host Michael Blaschke on LinkedIn Intelligence Brief by the Swiss Bitcoin Institute on ‘Abundant Power, Real Value: Turning Swiss Curtailment into Industrial Advantage’ Website of 21energy 21energy on Twitter 21energy on Instagramm 21energy on YouTube 21energy on LinkedIn Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel
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